APCIC - Vol 10 No 01 - 1985

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NEWS
Issue: Volume 10, No. 1
Date: January 1985
Publisher: AERIAL PHENOMENON CLIPPING INFORMATION CENTER
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

This issue of UFO News delves into various unexplained aerial phenomena, featuring witness testimonies, investigative reports, and discussions on government involvement. The magazine is published by the Aerial Phenomenon Clipping Information Center (APCIC), which provides monthly news releases on UFOs and related subjects.

Key Articles and Reports

UFOs Seen by Valley Folk (Sun City AZ. Daily News Sun, October 2, 1984)

This article by Jeanne Stuckwisch highlights the reluctance of individuals to report UFO sightings due to scientific skepticism, but notes a growing public acceptance and scientific involvement in the field. It recounts several witness accounts:

• David's Sightings: David reported two separate sightings. The first involved an object seen near Pyramid Mountain, Colorado, described as mint green and darting. The second, with his family near South Mountain, Arizona, described a "monstrous" object with blue and white lights that hovered, moved southerly, and descended slowly, estimated to be about eight to 10 football fields in diameter.
• George's Experience: George witnessed what appeared to be a ball of fire near palm trees, but the fire department found no evidence of a fire.
• Tina and Chris's Encounter: Tina saw a moving object with a round base, appearing to be on fire with a trailing tail, which disintegrated. Chris observed a long, turquoise object that moved quickly and disappeared.
• Youngstown Resident's Account: A resident described a blinking object that moved rapidly towards her apartment and hovered at an estimated 5,000 feet.

The article emphasizes that while scientists often offer logical explanations, those who have witnessed these phenomena are convinced "there is something out there."

Jamie Farr's Chilling Encounter with a UFO (Examiner, November 6, 1984)

This report by Phil Brennan details an encounter experienced by actor Jamie Farr and his wife, Joy, in 1965. While driving on a desert highway near Yuma, Arizona, they observed a bright light that turned out to be a UFO. Farr described it as having a dome shape with rotating blue and red lights. The craft matched their car's speed, hovered, and then accelerated rapidly towards the mountains. Farr, initially terrified, stated that he now believes in UFOs and the existence of other intelligent beings in the universe.

Alien Saucers Crashed in NM, Say '77 Reports (Sun Staff Writer, October 10, 1984)

This article by Lisa Godwin discusses declassified documents that suggest the U.S. government has knowledge of UFO crashes and alien recoveries, particularly a 1952 incident near Los Alamos, New Mexico. Robert Hastings, a UFO investigator, claims that nine aliens aboard three flying saucers were recovered. The article mentions FBI and CIA investigations into aerial phenomena, noting that the government often dismisses sightings as natural phenomena or imagination. It highlights the efforts of UFO researchers to obtain declassified documents through the Freedom of Information Act, revealing that the government has investigated numerous sightings, especially near military bases.

Couple Report Attack from Space (Albany, OR Democrat-Herald, October 11, 1984)

This AP report details an incident involving Robert and Jackie Bair, a truck-driving team who claimed to be attacked by bird-like creatures from a spaceship near Billings, Montana. They reported that a bubble-shaped spaceship emerged from a dark cloud, and creatures emerged from a "peanut-shaped cylinder." The couple refused to drive further, fearing the creatures were surrounding their truck. Police Chief George Trierweiler and State Patrol Sgt. Fred Korte investigated but found no evidence of the creatures or the spaceship, leading them to dismiss the report.

Honeymooners Spotted UFOs (The Seattle Times, October 7, 1984)

This column by Shelby Gilje discusses a report from a honeymooning couple, D.P. and his bride, who observed four moving objects in the sky over the San Juan Islands. They described the objects as "moving stars" and were convinced they were not airplanes. The article suggests they likely saw satellites, with Bruce Margon of the University of Washington's Department of Astronomy explaining the high number of satellites in orbit.

Everyday's Halloween for Pursuer of UFOs, and Other Phenomena (PA. Valley News Dispatch, October 31, 1984)

This article by John B. Gibson profiles Diane Enion of the Pennsylvania Center for UFO Research. Enion investigates various unexplained phenomena, including UFO sightings in the Kiski Valley, reports of strange nocturnal noises, Bigfoot-like creatures, and large black panthers. The article mentions a disturbing case in Luzerne County involving strange lights and poltergeist activity, where battery-operated recorders captured sounds of chanting and groaning children. Cameras malfunctioned in the area, and a videotape recorder was tampered with. Enion's center aims to focus on the phenomena themselves, avoiding religious or psychological interpretations.

UFO Seen Tuesday Night Called Cessna Formation (NY Nyack Rockland Journal News, November 1, 1984)

This report by E.B. Walzer discusses a sighting of multiple lights in the night sky over Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam counties, initially thought to be UFOs. It was later identified as a formation of eight Cessna aircraft. Lon Baughman confirmed that his son, Jeff, and other pilots participated in these flights, which were legal as long as navigational lights were on. However, officials expressed frustration with pilots potentially trying to "fool the people."

UFO Sighting Reported in Blair (PA. Johnstown Tribune Democrat, October 25, 1984)

This article by Bob Sefick and James W. Siehl reports on a sighting in Blair County, Pennsylvania, where a resident claimed to see an unidentified flying object with red and white lights. Police investigated and found that the lights were from a local TV tower. The resident maintained his conviction that he saw a UFO. The incident was reported to the Pennsylvania Association for the Study of the Unexplained, which serves as a clearinghouse for UFO sightings and other phenomena in the state. The article also mentions reports of big cats and Bigfoot in western Pennsylvania.

UFO Sighting Spooks Couple (La Crosse (Wis.) Tribune, October 10, 1984)

This AP report details a claim by a truck-driving couple who stated they were attacked by bird-like beings from a spaceship. They abandoned their load and refused to continue driving. Police investigated but found no evidence to support their claims.

"Fireball" Incident Is Still a Mystery (Medford Star News, October 3, 1984)

This piece addresses a reader's inquiry about a "fireball" incident in August. The writer suggests it could have been a flare or a falling meteorite, noting the lack of reports of rapid movement or noise, which would be expected from a meteorite. The mystery remains unsolved.

School to Host UFO Convention (NY Staten Island Advance, October 31, 1984)

This article by Wendy Diller announces a 12-hour conference titled "UFOs: The Greatest Story Never Told" at Tottenville High School, organized by Pete Mazzola of the Scientific Bureau of Investigation (SBI). The event aims to generate public interest and push the government to release more information on UFOs. The article mentions the "UFO flap" in the New York metropolitan area and SBI's efforts to investigate unusual sightings. It also references declassified government documents, including an Air Force "blue book" and a memo about UFOs in Vietnam, and highlights upcoming speakers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFO News include the persistent nature of UFO sightings across different regions, the contrast between official skepticism and witness conviction, and the ongoing efforts to uncover government information on the subject through declassification. There's a clear editorial stance supporting the investigation of unexplained phenomena, providing a platform for witness accounts, and highlighting the work of UFO research organizations. The magazine aims to inform the public about UFOs and related mysteries, encouraging open discussion and investigation.

Title: NATIONAL ENQUIRER
Issue Date: November 13, 1984

This issue of the National Enquirer features a dramatic cover story about "Unidentified Flying Terror" in Brazil, alongside reports on UFO sightings and investigations in the UK and US.

Brazilian UFO Terror

The lead article details how egg-shaped UFOs, described as balls of fire, are terrorizing the town of Demerval Lobao in northeast Brazil. The sightings have frightened farm workers, causing them to refuse to work in the fields for fear of being kidnapped by alien visitors. Odilon Goncalves, former police chief, described the town as being in an uproar, with hundreds of people seeing the machines and several being chased. He recounted a personal experience of seeing an egg-shaped machine pass nine feet over bean fields. Local farmer Jose Macedo reported seeing three UFOs one night, with bright spotlights that lit up the area like sunlight. One UFO swooped down, and a companion who tried to throw a knife at it became temporarily paralyzed. The town's mayor, Maria Mendes, also confirmed seeing UFOs and noted that the incidents have affected the town's prosperity, with farmers afraid of being captured. She expressed concern that the town could go bankrupt if the flying saucers don't leave.

UK UFO Incidents and Investigations

Several articles from UK publications cover various UFO phenomena:

Rendlesham Forest Incident

An article from the Ipswich Evening Star discusses a dramatic tape recording of an alleged UFO incident near Woodbridge airbase in December 1980. American servicemen, including Lt. Col. Charles Halt, witnessed a spectacular display by an alleged alien space craft. The tape captures their reactions, describing the object as having a dark center and remarking, "This is weird," and "This is unreal." The object was seen hovering and emitting a beam of light. Halt later filed a report, which, when leaked, boosted the investigation. Investigators Jenny Randles and others criticized the Ministry of Defence for their lack of action, suggesting they were withholding information.

Hyndburn Sightings

The Hyndburn Citizen reports on a group from Oswaldtwistle who claim to have made two UFO sightings. The first involved seeing something 'green and flashing' in the sky, similar to a report in the Citizen about a UFO over Clayton-le-Moors. Two weeks later, the same group saw an object described as 'luminous green' and 'not a bird or plane'.

Oulton Broad Lights

Articles from the Lowestoft Journal and Mercury discuss unexplained lights over Oulton Broad. Witnesses confirmed previous reports, with one describing an object that sounded like an airship carrying freight. Airship Industries confirmed their craft were all tethered, and local investigators contacted military bases without success.

Seaford Cornfield Rings

The Eastbourne & District Advertiser reports on mysterious rings that appeared in a cornfield near Seaford. While some believe they were an elaborate hoax, others, like the magazine Viewpoint Aquarius, suggested they were evidence of a spacecraft landing, citing changes in the corn's chlorophyll. Philip Taylor of the British UFO Research Association, however, considers them a hoax.

Steuart Campbell's Prediction

An article from the Edinburgh Evening News features Steuart Campbell, an Edinburgh researcher who predicts UFOs will return in force around 1990. Campbell explains these lights are often mistaken identity cases or natural phenomena like ball lightning, which is linked to sunspot activity. He likens UFOs to the twentieth-century equivalent of fairies and goblins.

Philip Taylor's Skepticism

Philip Taylor, a leading local expert and investigator for the British UFO Research Association, expresses skepticism about UFOs being spacecraft from other worlds. After 10 years of investigation, he has found no evidence to support this idea, concluding that most sightings have natural explanations and that people have a psychological need to believe in something extraordinary. He does, however, believe there is life elsewhere in the universe.

Skyscan's Investigations

The Worcester Evening News profiles Skyscan, a group that investigates UFO reports. They conclude that 95% of sightings have natural explanations, such as military aircraft or atmospheric phenomena. They emphasize their thorough, skeptical approach and their desire for more public input.

US UFO Research and Analysis

J. Allen Hynek's Research

The CA San Jose Mercury (M) and MB Winnipeg Free Press report on J. Allen Hynek, founder of the Center for UFO Studies. Hynek analyzed 400 credible UFO reports, finding that most sightings occurred while people were engaged in mundane tasks, with driving on a lonely road being the best chance to see a UFO. He noted common characteristics like hovering, silent movement, and vertical takeoffs, and stated that UFO reports rarely mention wheels, wings, or fiery dragons. Hynek described himself as an "enemy of pseudo-science" and emphasized the need for more research funding.

Philip Klass's Challenge

Philip Klass, a prominent debunker of UFOs, challenged Hynek to present his evidence to the National Academy of Sciences for an impartial verdict. Klass believes a new approach is needed beyond simply collecting more reports. Hynek declined the challenge, citing a lack of time and funds for an investigation as thorough as a homicide investigation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This collection of articles reflects a common theme in UFO reporting: the tension between sensational claims of alien visitation and more grounded, skeptical investigations. While some publications and individuals embrace the possibility of extraterrestrial craft, others, like Philip Taylor and Skyscan, focus on debunking sightings through natural explanations. The role of media in sensationalizing UFO reports is also highlighted, particularly in the context of the term "flying saucer" itself. The articles collectively suggest a public fascination with the unexplained, coupled with a growing scientific effort to provide rational explanations for these phenomena.

Title: The UFO Buster
Publication: Port Huron Times Herald
Issue Date: November 12, 1984
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of The UFO Buster delves into the world of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) through the lens of Dan Wright, the Michigan director of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON). The publication explores Wright's belief that UFOs are extraterrestrial visitors and examines various aspects of UFO phenomena, including investigations, alleged government cover-ups, and personal encounters.

Dan Wright: The UFO Buster

Dan Wright is presented as a dedicated investigator who believes that UFOs are more than just science fiction; they are real visitors from outer space. His job, as director of MUFON in Michigan, is to investigate these reports. Wright presented his findings to the Greater Port Huron-Marysville Chamber of Commerce, submitting that UFOs are real and potentially extraterrestrial in origin. He suggested these visitors might be studying Earth, possibly even attempting to manipulate nuclear weapons. Wright acknowledges the skepticism surrounding his claims, noting that only tangible evidence like a "nut or a bolt from a UFO" might convince some.

Wright estimates that only 10 percent of UFO sightings are reported, with fear of ridicule being the primary deterrent for the other 90 percent. MUFON, a 15-year-old private, non-profit organization, has 12,000 members worldwide and files documenting 123,000 sightings.

The reported UFOs are often described as lights or metallic objects that hover soundlessly or move erratically. Wright showed images that were typically tiny and fuzzy, often resembling two soup bowls with wide rims placed face-to-face. He also touched upon the vastness of the universe, suggesting the high probability of intelligent life on other planets, and speculated that UFOs might utilize time travel or other-dimensional paths to traverse vast distances. MUFON has received 76 reports of people seeing extraterrestrial occupants, described as slender, less than 4 feet high, with large heads, slit mouths, and large eyes.

Personal Encounters and Skepticism

Leo Siskonen of Marysville shared his experience of seeing a UFO in the late 1950s in northwest Detroit. He described it as a white light, almost round with little fringes, which he definitively identified as a UFO. However, like many, he was reluctant to report it for fear of being dismissed.

UFO-logists Discuss Cover-up, Electricity & Telly Savalas

This section covers a UFO conference where various speakers presented their research and theories. Bryce Bond, a counselor-psychic-former journalist, claimed to have had a close encounter with a 50-foot-long circular craft and communed with its extraterrestrial captains. He taught "ultrasonic breathing" as an antidote to aging and other ailments. Bond's experience was recalled through regressive hypnosis, allowing him to reclaim "lost time."

Colman Von Keviczky, a former major in the Royal Hungarian Army, argued that UFOs pose a threat to national security and that governments worldwide, including the U.S., Iran, Italy, and the UN, are aware of this danger but are keeping it secret to prevent public panic. He presented memos and reports to support his claims.

Lawrence Fawcett, a police lieutenant and author of "Clear Intent," aims to prove a U.S. government conspiracy to conceal information about UFOs. He explained that UFOs exhibit capabilities beyond current technology and presented evidence from government documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Fawcett recounted his own sighting in 1965 of a large, round object over an electrical substation, which caused a power outage. This experience led him to become a "ufologist."

Fawcett noted that the typical government reaction to UFOs is to "shoot first and ask questions later," which he believes explains why aliens haven't made direct contact.

Government Documents and Reactions

Fawcett and his co-author, Barry Greenwood, have secured approximately 5,000 pages of government documents since 1977, often through lawsuits against agencies like the CIA. Fawcett expressed surprise that the government has not issued any response or denial to books and reports about UFOs, unlike typical reactions to such publications.

UFOs and National Security

Von Keviczky's research suggests that UFOs are a significant national security concern. He presented documents indicating that governments are aware of the threat but are withholding this information from the public. The conference's purpose, according to organizer Pete Mazzola, was to educate the public and pressure the government to disclose what it knows about UFOs.

UFO Flaps and FAA Explanations

Philip Imbrogno, associated with CYROS, mentioned a "UFO flap" in New York, with numerous sightings of "boomerang-shaped patterns of lights" reported over Connecticut, Putnam County, and Westchester County. He stated that thousands of people have independently reported these phenomena, refuting the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) explanation of them being groups of Cessna 152s. Imbrogno dismisses the FAA's explanation as "physically impossible."

Letters to the Editor

A letter from the N.Y. Mamaroneck Times (Nov 9, 1984) addresses an article on UFO sightings. The author, an investigator for APRO, claims that 90 percent of sightings were pilot-related and criticizes attorney Peter Gersten for allegedly censoring information about pilots. The letter writer asserts they were the first to identify the lead pilot and made it public, expressing a belief that Gersten, Imbrogno, and Hynek's organizations will damage the credibility of the UFO field.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reality of UFOs as extraterrestrial visitors, the alleged efforts by governments to conceal information about them, and the ongoing investigations by civilian organizations like MUFON and APRO. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting the views of UFOlogists and investigators who believe in the significance of these phenomena and advocate for greater transparency from official sources. The articles encourage readers to consider the possibility of extraterrestrial life and to question official narratives regarding UFOs.